The holidays are upon us! I’ll admit it’s taking me a bit to get into the spirit. So, I could use a little help from you guys to feel all the feels. I know just the spark I need!…

Show me your best holiday shot!

Ever taken a photo that evokes the spirit of the holidays?

Well, I would love to see it! Share with me your fave holiday shot. That one image that summarizes and captures the season perfectly for you. Is it the freshly fallen snow? The sparkle of tinsel on a tree? or the child-like excitement of opening that cherished gift?

Share your image by November 17th for a chance to win an
8″ x 10″ print from Squint Photography! The winning photo & photographer will be announced Monday, November 20th.

I am all about color. I’ve never shied away from it. In fact, I gravitate towards it. There is an energy and fullness of life that is fueled in me by vibrant hues. Colors penetrate many areas of my life, not only in my photography. I love brightly hued blouses, colorful pillows and saturated paintings. For me, colors are the spice of life.

So, you can understand my frustration when back in 2010, when I started to post my photos online, I noticed, as with many forms of art and design, a lot of the popular work was represented in vintage tones and washed out pastels. Now, why I do find a lot of this work charming, it doesn’t create an excitement in me. It doesn’t make my heart go pitter-patter. It feels safe. And for me, photography, should do more than just be “pretty”. It should put a smile on my face and then make me think. It should make my spirit soar and it should make a statement: Look at me, I’ve got something to say!

I’ve often struggled with finding a place for my work, finding the best fit, going against the grain. My photographs instantly seemed to stand out and defy what was popular. I’ve tried my hand at a softer touch, for more subtlety. I’ve done this both successfully, and many times not so successfully. Ultimately, I keep coming back to what draws me in – pure, saturated color.

Nowadays in my work, I’ve decided to go unapologetically into my embrace of bright pigments. It’s become my thing, I guess. In recent years, I’ve begun to see a shift in photography, away from much of the vintage filters and a movement towards intense uses of color. And that excites me very much!

So, today I’d like to share with you some awesome images that celebrate the use of color. These are some of my fave photographers lately, who go bold with their tones. They unabashedly fill their images with bright lights and vibrant subjects.

Az Jackson is an award winning photographer who creates vibrant cityscapes and landscapes that excite the senses. ‘Color of Manhattan’ is one of my favorites. A very cool perspective and the colors practically leap out at you.

Colorful, minimalist photography is Tom Windeknecht’s signature style. His photos make my heart happy. Minimalism and color together?…who could ask for more! He is also a wonderful Instagram content creator.

The Wonder Wheel at Coney Island has been photographed countless times. Photographer Susan Candelarios’ rendition is definitely one of my faves. I adore the crisp, sharp colors and yummy blurriness of the whirling ride.

The SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas is now underway. For those of you (who have been living under a rock) who don’t know about this fest, it celebrates what’s, new, hot and up and coming in interactive, film and music. For the past 14 years, I have only missed it 3 times. Sadly, this year is one of them.

For me, it’s all about exploring and checking out new bands and new sounds from all over the globe that converge on this truly eclectic city of Austin under a weeks time. Taking in the tunes was the #1 priority, but with camera in hand, so was capturing the spirit of these bands and the energy they brought to this renowned, yearly event.

Photographing concerts and bands was one of my first loves when I started doing photography. Back in the day, I shot mostly on film, as if shooting concerts wasn’t tricky enough! It certainly gave me the opportunity to cut my teeth on some extreme exposure and focus challenges. I’ll admit, though, things got exponentially less complicated when I finally purchased my first digital SLR and took it to SXSW in 2008. A whole new world had opened up for me.

The past few years when I’ve gone to the event, I found myself just getting absorbed in the music more, and letting the camera fall to the wayside. But that’s ok, because enjoying the music was always the first intention anyway.

In honor of the event, I though I’d share some of my fave band photos from over the years….Hope you enjoy them….